Liz Truss has announced she has resigned as Prime Minister – and a Cumbrian MP has called for a General Election after he said the Conservative Party had gambled with the country’s future.
After less than two months in charge, she stood outside 10 Downing Street and said she had met King Charles and told him she was resigning.
She has been Prime Minister for 45 days – and now holds the record for having the shortest tenure of any UK PM.
In just 90 seconds, she resigned. She said given the situation could not deliver the mandate on which she was elected upon by the Conservative Party.
She said: “I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability. Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills.
“Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent and our country has been held back for too long by low economic growth.
“I was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change this. We delivered on energy bills and on cutting National Insurance and we set out a vision for a low tax, high-growth economy which would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit.
“I recognise though, that given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party.
“I have therefore spoken to his majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party. This morning I met the chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, we’ve agreed that there will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week.
“This will ensure that we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country’s economic stability and national security. I will remain as Prime Minister until a successor has been chosen. Thank you.”
Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron, who represents Westmorland and Lonsdale, said: “Liz Truss was the shortest serving Prime Minister in our history, but her disastrous legacy will continue to devastate our country a long time to come.
“Our children and grandchildren will bear the cost of this disastrous Conservative government who have gambled with our country’s future.
“But what is also clear is that this shambles will not end with the resignation of Liz Truss. Her appalling policies were aided and abetted by Conservative ministers and MPs who do not understand the struggles that people in Britain are facing today.
“Our country deserves and desperately needs a government that is competent and compassionate – it is clear that the Conservatives are neither.
“This charade is only set to continue unless the people get their say in the form of a General Election.”
John Stevenson, Carlisle’s Conservative MP, said: “On a personal level, I feel for the PM. She’s been under enormous pressure. I’m sympathetic but she’s done the right thing. It was going to be inevitable.
“Now, as quickly as possible we have to choose a new leader so we can return to a more stable government.”
Mr Stevenson said he did not think a General Election should – or would – be called. He added: “If the new PM can command in a majority in Parliament, there’s two years until a General election. My hope is the new leader will concentrate on the 2019 manifesto.”
Neil Hudson, Penrith and the Border MP, said he welcomed Ms Truss’ decision.
He said: “I firmly believe this is the right and moral thing to do for the country. The events of the last few weeks have been deeply regrettable, leading to significant economic instability and deep upset.
“This has been of huge concern to my constituents in Penrith and The Border and to people right across the country worried about their bills, mortgages, savings, their futures and their livelihoods.
“The events yesterday in Parliament showed that the current political situation was untenable and not in the best interests of the country. The country deserves so much better from us.
“I look forward to a new Conservative Prime Minister being elected next week to lead a Government for all of the country, supporting the most vulnerable in society, and honouring our 2019 manifesto.”
Hard to believe I wrote this only 106 days ago. https://t.co/yml4H4xVt5
— Simon Fell MP (@simonfell) October 20, 2022
Trudy Harrison, the Conservative MP for Copeland, said: “It’s deeply disappointing to be in this situation once again. My hope this time is that we recognise who the public voted for by such a strong majority in 2019. I’ve joined with colleagues to echo the words: #BringBackBoris.
“And I very much hope he decides to stand.”
Conservative MPs Simon Fell (Barrow and Furness) and Mark Jenkinson (Workington) have also been contacted for comment but have not yet responded.
Suzanne Caldwell, of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “Businesses and people are grappling with one of the most challenging periods in living memory, and there seems little prospect of that easing any time soon. That has been added to significantly by the turmoil in the Government, and, it has to be said, some of the decisions and statements made by those in power. To be frank the last few weeks beggar belief.
“This is not a party political comment and I know that all of Cumbria’s MPs are absolutely committed to the best interests of Cumbria, its businesses and its people.
“What we all need now is stability and a sensible and sensitive approach, which takes due regard of the range of interests and challenges and restores confidence.
“We’re in a very different position as country and economy from where we were at the last General Election and not only personnel but policies have changed and seem set to change further, considerably. So arguably a General Election, although disruptive in the short term, is the right way forward for future stability and progress.”
